Clamping mechanism for multiple-spindle lathes.



APPLICATION IILED'NOV. 22, 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WAHINGTON, D. C.

1). MILLINGTON 6:0. MUNTHE.

ULAMPING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHES.

' APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 22, 1910. 998 371 Patented July 18,1911.

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rQsfi/f M21711 r v er 6/, nix/M COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10-, WASHINGTON, DC' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID MILLINGTON AND GHRISTOFFER MUNTI-IE, F FRIEDENAU, NEAR BERLIN,GERMANY.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE-SPINDLE LATHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

- invented certain new and useful Improvements in Improved ClampingMechanism for Multiple-Spindle Lathes, of which the following is aspecification, and do hereby declare the nature of this invention and inwhat manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described andascertained in and by the following statement.

This invention has for its object to produce an improved clampingmechanism for enabling a multiple-spindle lathe to be converted withoutconstructional alteration lnto several single-spindle 'machines equal innumber to the number of spindles in the multiple'spindle machine.

With this object in view, the device for moving the clamping collars ofthe spindles of the multiple-spindle machine for ward and backward, areremovably mounted in a frame that is moved parallelly to the spindles,so that either the clamping collars of all the spindles can be movedforward and backward at the same time, or when the spindles are beingshifted around their common axis, only the clamping collar of thatspindle that happens to be in a determined position will be movedforward and backward.-

This invention aflords the advantage that in machining a simple piece ofwork which can be finished in one position, a lathe provided with theimproved clamping mechanism will be capable of producing at one time asmany pieces of work as there are spindles in the machine.

One form of this invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front end elevation partly in section of the improvedclamping mechanism applied to a three-spindle lathe, and Fig. 2 is asection on the line A-B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmental view of theclamping mechanism when the machine is used as an ordinarymultiple-spindle lathe.

1 is the frame formed with an annular groove 2 in which ring segments 3,3, 3 engage that are supported and held in their positions by acenter-piece 3 These ring segments are provided with rollers 4 thatengage each in a groove 5 formed in the clamping collar 6 of itsrespective spindle 7.

The frame 1 is provided on each side with a rack 8 in which toothedwheels 9 engage that are driven by means of a crosspiece 10. Thiscrosspiece 10 is moved to-and-fro by the action of a cam drum ll drivenfrom the main drive of the lathe.

As it may happen that the material in one splndle is used up sooner thanin the other spindles, the frame 1 which is moved forward and backwardparallelly to the spindles, would then be liable to tilt or crosswind ifit were guided only on one side. lVith the object of avoiding this withcertainty, the frame 1 has its lower end engaglng in a recess 13 in thecrosspiece 10,

and is also held by means of the racks 8 which are arranged in sideguides 12.

When it is desired to work the lathe as a number of single-spindlemachines, the spindles remain stationary, that is they are not shiftedaround from one position into the other. The opening and closing of thechucks must then take place simultaneously 111 all the three spindles.This is effected by moving the frame 1 forward and backward by means ofthe toothed wheels 9. In this operation the ends of the clamping levers14 move up on the clamping cones 15 during the forward movement, and thework is clamped thereby in the usual manner. In the backward movement ofthe frame the clamping cone 15 allows the levers 14 to move down againto release the work.

When it is desired to employ the machine as an ordinary multiple-spindlelathe, the parts 3, 3, 3", and the center piece 3 are taken out of theframe and a slide piece 16 (indicated in Fig. 3) is fixed instead in theannular groove 2 in the frame 1.

The three spindles which are mounted in the revolving head are shiftedaround in the usual manner, and in this movement the clamping collars ofthe several spindles come successively into engagement with the slidepiece 16. By this means during the forward and backward movement of theframe 1, the clamping collar that happens to be in engagement with theslide piece 16, will also be moved forward and backward, so as to clampor release the work accordingly. The clamping collars of the two otherspindles remain meanwhile stationary, that is, they do not move forwardand backward with the frame 1, so that there is no clamping or releasingof the work in those spindles.

It is to be understood that the lathe may have more than three spindleswithout departing from the nature of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare thatwhat we claim is l. A clamping mechanism for multiplespindle lathescomprising the spindles, a frame carried by the lathe and surroundingthe spindles, means for moving the frame parallelly to the spindles andremovable means carried by the frame for actuating the clamping means ofthe spindles.

2. A clamping mechanism for multiple spindle lathes comprising thespindles, a frame carried by the lathe and surrounding the spindles,means for moving the same parallelly to the spindles, andinterchangeable means on the frame for simultaneously or independentlyactuating the clamping means of the spindles.

3. A clamping mechanism for multiple spindle lathes comprising thespindles, a frame carried by the lathe, a movable cross piece guidingthe lower end of the frame,

means operated by the cross piece for mov- L ing the frame parallellywith the spindle and means carried by the frame for actuating theclamping means of the spindles.

4. A clamping mechanism for multiple spindle lathes comprising thespindles, a frame carried by the lathe, a. movable cross piece guidingthe lower end of the frame, racks on the sides of the frame, gearsmeshing with the racks and driven from the cross piece for moving theframe, and means carried by the frame for actuating the clamping meansof the spindles.

5. A clamping mechanism for multiple spindle lathes comprising thespindles, a frame carried by the lathe having an annular groove therein,means for moving the frame parallelly with the spindles and clampingcollars for the spindles removably mounted in said groove.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID MILLINGTON. CHRISTOFFER MUNTHE. Vitnesses VVOLDEMAR HAUra, HENRYHAsrnR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

